THIS IS NOT ->Delawareliberal

Saturday, October 28, 2006

Jim Webb is Ryan at JTTR's "Hack of the Week"

Editor's note: The Navy Cross is the nation's second-highest award for bravery in facing an enemy. James Webb has refused to use it in his campaign. We are publishing it with our endorsement of him because we believe it testifies to his character.

The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam.

On 10 July 1969, while participating in a company-sized search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory, First Lieutenant Webb's platoon discovered a well-camouflaged bunker complex which appeared to be unoccupied. Deploying his men into defensive positions, First Lieutenant Webb was advancing to the first bunker when three enemy soldiers armed with hand grenades jumped out.

Reacting instantly, he grabbed the closest man and, brandishing his .45 caliber pistol at the others, apprehended all three of the soldiers.

Accompanied by one of his men, he then approached the second bunker and called for the enemy to surrender. When the hostile soldiers failed to answer him and threw a grenade which detonated dangerously close to him, First Lieutenant Webb detonated a claymore mine in the bunker aperture, accounting for two enemy casualties and disclosing the entrance to a tunnel.

Despite the smoke and debris from the explosion and the possibility of enemy soldiers hiding in the tunnel, he then conducted a thorough search which yielded several items of equipment and numerous documents containing valuable intelligence data. Continuing the assault, he approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade.

Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body.

Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion, he managed to throw a grenade into the aperture and completely destroy the remaining bunker.

By his courage, aggressive leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service...................................

What was George Allen doing? Why does Ryan hate our men and women in uniform so much?

You mean to tell me that you would vote for a guy who writes books that include incestuous pedophilia? You mean to tell me that this is not news? Mark Foley writes emails to pages over the age of consent, resigns and is crucified, but this is okay?

Jase: You're only doing this out of some ridiculous perception of spite. Claiming Ryan (or anyone else) doesn't like the military based on his latest writings is just pathetic. Should we examine your writings and then exclaim all the things you "hate"? It's just silly. I mean, you -- like Matthews, Garrett and Burris -- have real potential in reporting (and affecting) local politics. The difference between you and them, however, is the quantity of outright silly posts (like this) that you make. You want to be taken seriously like the other three, then friggin' BE serious.

This is just my advice; take it for what its worth. I mean, look -- Matthews uses an inordinate amount of profanity in his posts, but it doesn't detract from his posts' serious message(s). That's important. You, OTOH, often lack that serious message. You gotta discriminate more -- a LOT more. I don't always agree, as you well know, with what Mike and especially Dana write, but they're kicking major ass in the local political scene (Dave, too, but I usually agree with him!).